Abdominal supporter



(Model') J. DIEL.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT-ER.

Patented July 19, 1881..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOSEPHINE DIEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,561, dated July 19, 1881.

Application filed December 20, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPHINE DIEL, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My supporter is intended for use during pregnancy, and the treatment of prolapsus uteri, and of rupture in either sex.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is adetail outside view, showing the way of supporting the pad for the treatment of rupture. Fig. 3 is a detail, showing a view of the pad or cushion used as a uterine support. Fig. A. is aperspective View of the improvement without the I shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1; but in most hanging-straps, with part broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail inside view of the lower part ot. the front portion. Fig. 6 is a detail section. Fig. 7 isa detail elevation, illustrating the construction in adjusting-folds, and Fig. 8 is a section of the same. Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are upon a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 4..

A leading feature of my supporter is its capacity for ready adjustment in size. For this purpose the material A is out of such size and form as to fit a person in the advance stage of pregnancy; It is then contracted by plaits B held by one or more lines of stitches, O, the

plaits being made sufficient in number. and,

in the rear, as shown, or it may have a lacing- At each in front, or both in front and rear. side I prefer to insert a piece, E, of elastic, which allows the supporter to accommodate itself to the movements of the person.

In the anterior part of the supporter are a sufficient number of rubber or gutta-percba ribs, F, inserted in pockets formed in the outer side of the supporter. I prefer to use five or more of these ribs, so as to support the front evenly and prevent any puckering. The rubber ribs are much better adapted for this purpose than ordinary whalebones, because they are rendered more flexible by the heat of the body, and thus enabled to accommodate themselves to the shape of the person. I also provide the posterior part with pockets G for ribs "to stiffen this part and support the back of the wearer. V These ribs are preferably made of the same material as the anterior ribs, although it is not of so much importance as in the former case.

The supporter may have shoulder-straps, as

cases it is better without these appendages.

The supporter is sustained by bearing upon the hips and by means of a pad or cushion, H, which has bearing upon the pubes, and which acts to support the uterus by pressing on the lower part of the abdomen.

I are straps which extend from the frontto the back, beneath the privates, to provide means for the treatment of rupture or'prolapsus uteri. These straps are made elastic at their ends to allow the free movement of the body, and their central parts may bewadded, as shown. The

straps I may each be attached to'a single buttonfz', in the rear, but should be forked at front 'andattached to two buttons, '5, so as to give'adequate support to the pad J, which is sustained and pressed against the groin in the treatment of rupture; or the pad J may be placed whereverthe rupture may require. The pad J should be made of form and material suited to the case. I have useda button or core of wood with a padding of cotton or some soft material surrounded by cloth or leather. This is'tacked or otherwise attached to the lower edge of the supporter, or to the strap I, or both, or it may be held in place simply by their pressure uponit.

In the treatment of prolapsus uteri I fix a pad, K, to the two straps I, so as to have pressure against the body to support the parts.

The front of the supporter may be lined or wadded upon the inside for the comfort and benefit 0f the wearer.

L is a strap upon each side over the elastic E, connecting the anterior to the posterior parts. The straps are made adjustable in length by a series of button-holes, I, either of which may be engaged upon the button, as shown in Fig. 4.

I claim as my invention- 1. An abdominal supporter provided with side elastics, E E, and adjustable straps L L,

connecting the rear with the front portion at a higher elevation over said elastics, as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the improved abdominal supporter, e'onsistin got bod y A, provided with plaits B, curved as shown, suit-able lacing, D, elasties E E, straps L L over said elastics, cushion H, straps I I, and pads J, J, and'K, as set forth.

MRS. JOSEPHINE DIEL. Witnesses SAML. KNIGHT,

GEORGE D. KNIGHT. 

